State Treasurer Fitzgerald Brings "Treasure" & "Savings" To the Clay County Fair

September 4, 2013

DES MOINES -- State Treasurer Michael L. Fitzgerald has announced that a stop at the Great Iowa Treasure Hunt and College Saving Iowa booth during the 2013 Clay County Fair may be worthwhile. Fair goers could find their name - over one million accounts are currently being held as unclaimed property in the Great Iowa Treasure Hunt. Visitors to the booth will be able to search the unclaimed property database to see if they have any treasures being held for them or register a loved one to win $5,290 in the College Savings Iowa fall giveaway. "Computers will be available for fairgoers to search for their names," Fitzgerald said. "Staff members will also be on hand to assist and answer questions for both programs."

The Great Iowa Treasure Hunt program has returned over $165 million in unclaimed property to more than 404,000 individuals since Fitzgerald started it in 1983. Unclaimed property refers to money and other assets held by financial institutions or companies that have lost contact with the property's owner for a specific period of time. State law requires these institutions and companies to annually report and deliver unclaimed property to the state treasurer's office, where it is held until the owner or heir of the property is found. Common forms of unclaimed property include: savings or checking accounts, stocks, uncashed checks, life insurance policies, utility security deposits and safe deposit box contents.

Clay County Fair visitors can also register for a chance to win the College Savings Iowa $5,290 Fall Giveaway for their child or grandchild. Saving for a child's education is always a smart investment, and College Savings Iowa is here to help. College Savings Iowa is an affordable, tax-advantaged option for families who are saving for their children's higher education. It takes just $25 to open a College Savings Iowa account, and anyone - parents, grandparents, friends and relatives - can invest on behalf of a child. Participants who are Iowa taxpayers can deduct contributions up to $3,045 per beneficiary account from their adjusted gross income in 2013 and there no income or residency restrictions.* To learn more about College Savings Iowa, go to collegesavingsiowa.com or call 1-888-672-9116.

Visit the Great Iowa Treasure Hunt and College Savings Iowa 529 Plan booth during the Clay County Fair in the Varied Industries building. The building will be open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. September 7 through September 14 and 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on September 15. Go to greatiowatreasurehunt.com to search for your treasure today.

*Adjusted annually for inflation if withdrawals are not qualified, the deductions must be added back to Iowa taxable income. The availability of tax or other benefits may be contingent on meeting other requirements.